Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 687,469. Patented Nov.'26, mol N. T. wumHLEY & J. HEAToNl AcETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application led Sept. 25, 1900.)

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No. 687,469. Patented Nov. 26, |90I. N. T. WORTHLEY &. J. HEATON.

r ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. v f l (Application med sape. 25. 1900.)

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Invew 4 MTM/077%] UNITED STATES PATEWE- NATHANIEL T. WOR'IHLEY AND JOSEPH HEATON, OF BRUNSWICK, MAINE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters1 Patent N0. 687,469, dated. November 26, 1901. Application tiled September 25, 1900. Serial No. 31,119. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom, it may concern/.r

Be it known that we, NATHANIEL T. WORTH- LEY, a citizen of the United States, and J0- sEPH HEATON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, both residents of Brunswick, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Acetylene-Gas Generators; and we declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this'specitication.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a central vertical section of our generator. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the gas-generator.

The invention has relation to acetylene-gas generators; and it consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the latter A designates the gas,- receiver or gasometer, and B the gas-generator.

C is the Water-supply, which is provided with an automatic valve c to maintain the level in the receiver-tank A and in the generator-tank B through connecting-pipes ct and b'.

D is a drip-chamber attached to the bottom of the receiver-tank ct, and into this dripchamber extend the lower ends of the gasoutlet pipe d, blow-off pipe e, and gas-inlet pipef.

E is the gasometer-bell, having a central tube e', into which the blow-oft pipe e extends.

F is the governor for the gas-inlet, consisting of an inverted holder f', secured to the upper end of a tubular stem f", into which the gas-inlet tube f extends. end of the stem f" are perforations through which the gas passes from the tubular stem into the governor-holder f', the lower portion of which is below the water-line of the receiver-tank. The stem f" is long enough to engage an arm of the lever G, which is pivoted to a support g on the licor of the re- At the upper.

ceiver-tank. The other arm of said lever is in the path of the gas-bell E, and when the bell descends on account ot the lessening of the gas therein suliciently to depress this arm of the lever the gas-governor is raised, decreasing its resistance and permitting a iiow of the gas into the bell. This flow, however, takes place through the water, so that the governor serves as a washing device and a stop to prevent the return of gas to the generator.4

The'lever G is stopped by its pivotal support or in any other suitable manner to normally maintain the governing device Fimmersed to a given depth in 'the water of the gasometer.

The generator B consists, mainly, of a tank having a cover b, which should be provided with locking devices, and inside of said tank a carbid-chamber H, within which is the carbid-holder K and a gas-holder L, covering in the carbid-chamber and removable when the tank is opened. The carbid-pans are arranged in series one above another in the carbidchamber, so that the holder consists of a series of chambers Z l, each of which is provided with a set of perforations Z' to admit.

Water to the carbid. These sets of perforaltions are therefore at different levels. The gas-outlet pipe or tube f'" extends from near the top of the tank B downward through the bottom of said tank and then transversely to the leg of the gasinlet tube in the receiver drip-chamber. The top ot the gas-inlet tube is above the water-line, as is also the top of the carbid-chamber. In the wall of the carbid-chamber, a little above the top of the carbid-holder, is made a perforation 7c to allow entrance of water, this perforation being guarded on the inside of the carbid-chamber by a tube or covered way h, which extends nearly to the bottom of this chamber, so thatwater must pass into the chamber at thel lower portion thereof.

In connection with the tank is provided an air vent pipe M, which communicates, by means of au upwardly-extending branch m, with the interior of the gas-holder L, and by means of an upwardly-extending'branch lm', which extends through the tank-cover, with IOO ' which extendsthrongh the cover.

the external air. The open upper end of the tubular branch m is below that of the gasinlet tube and below that of the branch m',

This airvent pipe4 is provided with an outlet n, which is -usually kept closed by means of a screwstopper n. The pipe M is designed also to communicate with the bottom of the carbidchamber.

In connection with the perforation or inlet 1c for water, which is made in the wall of the carbid-chamber, is provided a stop-valve p, which is designed to be operated by means of a rod extending through a tube r', secured in the tank. When the valve is pulled down to close the water-inlet 7c, the water can be drawn off from the carbid-chamber and from the air-vent tubes and `the generator can then be opened. g

From the construction described it will be noted that the gasgenerator consists of a central carbid-chamber having superposed carbid-pans, an inner water-chamber communicating with said carbid-chamber at the top only thereof, and an outer water-chamber communicating with said inner chamber lat the bottom only thereof, such outer chamber having a water-supply from the gasometer.

The operation is as follows: The water passes from the supply-tank into the receivertank and thence into the generator-tank, tilling both to the same level, which is kept constant by means of the ball-valve. The valve r having been first adjusted, the water passes down pipe r and thence through the perforation `lo in the wall of the carbid-chamber and through the passage or covered way h therein to the bottom portie-n or in the carbid-chamber and inner water-cliamberof said chamber, rising thence to the inlets of the sections of the carbid-holder, wetting the carbid and causing the generation of the acetylene gas, which passes through the pipe connections f", U, and finto the gas-bell of the receiver, whence it passes off for use by the pipe d. This passage of the gas into the gasbell raises the gas-bell from the lever and allows the gas-holding governor to fall to its seat and to oder sufficient resistance to the passage of the gas to maintain a water-pressure of four and one-half inches in the generator when the gas-bell is' balanced to three inches. Before this pressure is reached the water in the inner seal of the generator will have been displaced below the inlet 7c and also below the inlets in the carbid-holder, the

- Waterin the carbid-chamber being forced into the air-vent pipe M, which acts as a reliefpipe for said water. This pipe serves as an air-vent pipe when the gas-bell is being removed or replaced. Gas being used from the hell it falls,V engaging the lever and raising the water-seal governor, steadily decreasing the pressure in the generator until the water in the inner seal again rises above the inlet k,

admitting more water to the carbid, generating more gas, and again displacing the water in the inner seal as before.

In the gas-bell itis designed to maintain a constant pressure of three inches, while in the generator the pressure varies from three inches to four and one-half inches. .The water-seal governor comprises also a washer for the gas and a stop to prevent the return of gas to the generator. It is never completely raised from its water seal.

The relief or air-vent pipe M is also designed to serve an important purpose as a VWell by means of which the water in the carbid-chamber can be measured, a graduated rod or scale being used for the purpose. In this manner it can be determined which section or pan of carbid the water has reached in its rising. \Vhen the gas-bell is olf the lever, the pressure in the generator is always four and one-half inches, which, taken from the depth of water in the open branch of the pipe M, will show the height of water in the carbid-chamber. This relief or vent pipe M is designed to be of sufficient capacity to serve as a reservoir for the water which may be displaced from the inletin carbid-pans. The inlets k and Z form a double cut-ot for the water in the carbid-chamber.

What we claim, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, is

l. In acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, the combination of the gas-generator, consisting of the central carbid-chamber, the inner Water chamber surrounding said carbidchamber, and communicating therewith at the top only thereof, the outer water-chamber surrounding said inner chamber, and cornmunicating therewith at the bottom onlvr tnereot, the Water-inlet from said inner chainber to said carbid-chamber, the gasometer,

the pipe connecting said gasometer, and the outer water-chamber of the gas-generator, and means for supplying water to said gasometer, substantially as specified.

2. In aeetylene-gas-generating apparatus, the combination of the gas-generator, consisting of the central carbid-chamber, the inner Water chamber surrounding said carbidchamber,and communicating therewith at the top only thereof,the outer water-chamber snrrounding said inner chamber, and communicating therewith at the-bottom only thereof, the Vertical Water-inlet tube in and extending to nearthe top ofisaid inner chamber,and having a communication with said inner chamber, and with said carbid-chamber at the uplOO IIO

per portion thereof, the covered way for conducting water from said inlet-tube to the bottom of said carbid-chamber, a vertical relief and air-vent pipe, and measuring-well, extending the full height of said generator, and communicating with. the atmosphere at the upper portion thereof, andwith the lower portion of said carbid-chamber at the lower portion thereof, the gasometer, the pipe connecting the gasometer with said outer waterchamber, and means for supplying water to said gasometer, substantially as specified.

3. In acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, the combination of the gas-generator, consisting of the central carbid-chamber, the inner water chamber surrounding said carbidchamber,and communicating therewith at the top only thereof, the outer water-chamber surrounding said inner chamber, and communicating therewith at the bottom only thereof, the vertical water-inlet tube in and extending to near the top of said inner chamber, said tube being open at the top, and having a lateral communication with said carbidchamber near the top thereof, the valve-rod in said tube controlling the admission of water at the top thereof, the covered way for conducting water froln said inlet-tube to the bottom of said carbid-chamber, a vertical relief and air-vent pipe, and measuring-well,

" extending the full height of said generatorand communicating with the Yatmosphere at the upper portion thereof, and with the bottom of said carbid-chamber at the lower portion thereof, the gasometer, the tube connecting said gasometer and outer water-chamber, and means for supplying said gasometer with water, substantially as specified.

4c. In acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, the combination of the gas-generator consisting of. the central carbid-chamber, having the series of superposed pans or subchambers having lateral inlet-perforations therethrough, the inner water-chamber surrounding said carbid-chamber, and communicating therewith at the top only thereof, the outer water-chamber surrounding said inner chamber, and communicating therewith at the bottom only thereof, the water-inlet from said inner chamber to said carbid-chamber, the air-vent and relief pipe, and measuring-well, extending the full height of said generator and having a communication at the upper portion thereof, with the atmosphere and at the lower portion thereof with the bottom of said carbid-chamber, rsaid relief-pipe being of suiiicient capacity to hold the water displaced from inlet into carbid-pans, substantially as specified.

5. In acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, the combination of the gas-generator consisting of the central carbid-chamber, the inner waterchamber surrounding said carbidchamber,and communicating therewith at the top only thereof, the outer water-chamber surrounding said inner chamber, and communicating therewith at the bottom only thereof, the water-inlet from said inner chamber to said carbid-chamber, the gasometer, the pipe connecting said gasometer and outer Water-chamber of `the generator, means for supplying water to said gasometer, the gasometer-bell, the gas-inlet tube for said gasometer, the governor controlling the exit of gas from said tube, and .the lever device in the path of said bell, and controlling said governor, substantially as specified.

v6. In acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, the combination of the gas-generator consisting of the central carbid-chamber, the inner water chamber surrounding said carbidchamber, and communicating therewith at the top only thereof, the outer water-chamber surrounding said inner chamber, and communicating therewith at the bottom only thereof, the vertical water-inlet tube in and extending to near the top of said inner chamber, said tube being open at the top and having a lateral communication with said carbid-chamber near the top thereof, the valverod in said tube controlling the admission of water at the top thereof, the covered way for conducting water from said inlet-tube to the bottom of said carbid-chamber, a vertical relief and air-vent pipe, and measuring-well, extending the full height of said generator, and communicating with the atmosphere at the upper portion thereof, and with the bottom of said carbid-chamber at the lower portion thereof, the gasometer, the tube connecting said gasometer and outer water-chamber of the generator, means for supplying said gasometer with water, the gasometer-bell, the gas-inlet Atube for said gasometer, the governor and gas-washer controlling the exit of gas from said tube, and the lever device in the path of said bell and controlling said governor and gas-washer, substantially as specilied.

7. In apparatus for generating acetylene gas, the combination with the gasometer, the gas-generator, and means for supplying the same with water from a common source, of the gasometer-bell, and its lever-actuated governing device, the carbidchamber and carbid-holder, having the double water inlet and cut-off, the gas-holder covering in the carbid-chamber, and the combined air-vent and relief pipe, substantially as specified.

8. In acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, the gas-generator consisting of the central carbidchamber, the inner water-chamber surrounding said carbid-chamber, and communicatin g therewith at the top only thereof, the outer water chamber surroundingsaid inner chamber,and communicating therewith at the bottom only thereof, and the double water inlet and cut-off to said carbid-chamber, and to the carbid in said chamber, substantially as specified.

9. In acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, the gas-generator consisting of the central carbidchamber, the inner water-chamber surrounding said carbid-chamber, and communicating therewith at the top only thereof, the outer water-chamber surrounding said inner chamber, and communicating therewith at the bottom only thereof, the water inlet IOO dripchamber3 and the blow-off pipe for said drip-chamber, substantially as specified.

is p d 687,469

and cut-off from said inner Chamber to saidv In testimony whereof we' vaffix our signacmbid chamber, the gasometer, the Watertures in presence of two wltnesses.

supply pipe connecting said gasometer and i A generator the drip-Chamber, the gas-inlet t and gas-outlet pipes of the gasomeber, ;hav

ing depending branches extending into said Witnesses:

GEORGE BARRON, Mrs. JOSEPH HEATON. 

